MilkEase Wearable Pump

What it does

More and more women are working now, but the work environment is inadequate to support women in raising their children. My design concept was to create a breast pump that is easy to wear and does not look uncomfortable to those around it.


Your inspiration

According to research, breastfeeding in the workplace is necessary to sustain breastfeeding for a long period of time. In Japan, where the nuclear family is increasingly prevalent, women who wish to return to work need to leave their children at nurseries, but the number of nurseries is limited and it is very difficult to breastfeed all children. With these problems as a background, it became my goal to come up with a design that would make milking at work more comfortable. By enabling working women to milk their children naturally at work, I hope to achieve a design that helps them to balance childcare and work.


How it works

MilkEase is designed with a separate motor pump and breast pump body. The pump part reduces air pressure to suck out breast milk and introduce it into the bottle or breast milk bag. The pump and breast pump body are then separated, with the pump positioned at the back of the neck to distribute the weight when in use, and the pump can be removed when not in use to make it very light and always ready to wear. The breast milk bag is also separate from the main unit, making it easy to remove and carry or store the breast milk bag when you have finished milking. The MilkEase design is lightweight, easy to use and easy to carry, making it suitable for busy daily schedules. This design makes it easier for women to balance childcare and work and provides an environment where milking at work is accepted as a natural act.

Design process

Breastfeeding is often seen as something to be hidden away, which is why baby rooms and other rooms have been created in various public environments. However, the process of finding these enclosed environments is stressful for women. I therefore decided that instead of designing enclosed spaces, it was important to allow women to protect themselves through themselves. The heaviest parts of the electric breast pump are the air pump and the battery, and by placing these two parts outside the breast pump and behind the neck, the breast pump is only used when it is needed and can be removed when not in use. In the initial prototype, the design of the mounting of the parts was wasteful and the breast area was too large, which caused discomfort when wearing it. Therefore, we repeatedly changed the design and redesigned the form of the body to fit into a slimmer appearance.
 We also focused on the ease of use of the breast pump. By making it easy to attach and detach and simple to operate, we made it easy to use even in busy daily life. In this way, we have developed the product through a series of prototypes and improvements, aiming to design a product that enables women to balance work and childcare.


How it is different

MilkEase differs from other products in several ways. 1, There is no need to set aside a specific space - MilkEase can be worn inside the garment and can be used at any time. 2, the process of use is very simple. Unlike regular products, which require a complex operating process, MilkEase can be worn before going out and stays on all day. 3, There is a separate design for the motor pump and the breast pump body. In existing products, the pump and breast pump body are integrated, which is heavy and uncomfortable to wear, but MilkEase distributes the weight by placing the pump behind the neck, making it more comfortable during use. In addition, the pump can be removed, making it very light when not in use, so it is not a burden to wear all the time. 4, The design looks natural when worn. Even when used at work or in public spaces, it is designed to be inconspicuous to those around you.

Future plans

MilkEase as a starting point, I plan to design many more products that empower women in the future. My goal is to achieve gender equality. The success of this product will strengthen support for women to work and raise their children, and give more women the tools to live their lives in their own way. Through these initiatives, we aim for a future where women can play a more free and equal role in society. We aim to use technology and design to empower women and help change the attitudes and structures of society as a whole.

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